5 Reasons to Take Your Wedding Pictures Before the Ceremony—And 1 Great Reason to Wait ’Til After! Which Will You Do?

Taking your wedding pictures will eat up a good chunk of time on your wedding day ...

Which I why I opted to have the pictures taken before my wedding ceremony.

Thinking about taking your pics BEFORE you walk down the aisle, too? Here are five good reasons to do just that.

You’ll look fresh in your photos. Get your pictures taken early, and it won’t matter all that much if someone spills something on your dress or your hairstyle gets a little loose.

You’ll be able to party sooner. Lots of brides and grooms take their pics right after the ceremony, but I wanted to enjoy cocktail hour (and the cocktail weenies!) along with my guests.

You won’t have to corral the wedding party or your family members. Once the wedding gets going, it’ll be hard to track down every last bridesmaid for a group shot. It’s easier to get everyone in one place when they’re all sober and no one’s in the bathroom or making out with your handsome cousin.

You can get rid of the kids earlier. If your flower girl or ring bearer won’t be sticking around post-ceremony, you’ll definitely want to opt for earlier photos. Kids at weddings aren’t always cute—especially after they OD on cake—but kids in wedding photos? Those are always cute.

You’ll get some quality time with the people you’re closest with. Once the wedding starts, your mom will be cornered by your cousins from across the country and your bridesmaids will want to hit the dance floor. If you take photos beforehand, you’ll get to chat with your nearest and dearest before other guests start pulling you in 120 directions.

Still, there’s something to be said for waiting ’til AFTER the ceremony to take your pictures.

I think the moment when the bride and groom see each other for the first time is magical—and it’s awesome to share that with your guests!

Will you take your wedding pictures before or after? How come? Which do you prefer as a bridesmaid?